Maryland is suing DC Water over the Potomac River sewage spill earlier this year.
Maryland’s Attorney General and the Maryland Department of the Environment have taken DC Water to court over the January collapse of a major sewer line in Montgomery County, arguing that the failure caused a massive sewage release into the Potomac River and nearby tributaries. According to the state, the rupture involved a 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor near the C&O Canal and sent an estimated 240 million gallons of raw sewage into the water over eight days. The lawsuit argues that this was not simply an unavoidable infrastructure failure, but the result of an aging system that showed warning signs and was not addressed in time.
According to the press release,
“Millions of gallons of raw sewage in the Potomac River does not just disappear, it damages ecosystems and harms communities, and it demands accountability,” said Attorney General Brown. “DC Water knew this aging infrastructure was corroding, yet it delayed repairs and failed in its duty to protect this treasured waterway, failures that we allege constitute gross negligence. We are going to court to make sure they make it right for Marylanders.”
“The Potomac River belongs to the people of Maryland, and we expect it to be fully restored to health,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain. “The utility must take full responsibility for the damage caused and take immediate and lasting action to prevent future spills. The river is part of our identity, our economy, and our way of life.”
Maryland is seeking civil penalties, reimbursement for testing and cleanup costs, compensation for environmental harm, and a court order intended to prevent future discharges. The case also highlights the risks associated with aging water and wastewater infrastructure, particularly systems that cross jurisdictional lines. For counties that operate their own systems, the failure of DC Water’s infrastructure may offer important lessons in both long-term maintenance and emergency response.
